Two pictures today, two completely different views of the precious living monument ... The Tree! These two adorable girls are friends, both 7 years old and both already have a love of trees. I’m sure the parents have had a lot to do with that, parents can have quite an influence on young minds. Thank you for influencing them with positive thoughts and warm respect for living things. Trees cannot protect themselves and those who step up to help them should be commended.

These girls found some wonderful big leaves to draw on and decorated them with their own special touch. Last Saturday I went to the Autumn Leaf Run at Oakdale Nature Preserve and everyone there greeted me with huge smiles, but these were the two winning smiles of the day. Thank you to Reece and Lauren for posing with their exquisite bouquet of autumn leaves.

It makes my heart happy to see young ones already in love with trees and nature. Hold onto that feeling as you grow older and continue to share your heart-warming smiles.

The other picture unfortunately is a sad reminder of so-called “progress” in the modern era. Which came first the tree or the wires? Sometimes it is easy to answer that question and there is rarely anything that can be done about it. Quite simply stated. “The tree is in the way.”

Freeport and surrounding towns have been visited much too often by the tree cutters, who chop and sever the branches for the lines to have a clear path. In June of 2012, I wrote a similar article and used the words “mass mutilation and disfiguration as branches are being mercilessly cut off, causing grotesque deformities.” I will say one thing in their defense though, at least they try to leave the tree standing, I’m sure the alternative would be to cut the entire tree down and that is not acceptable at all.

I spotted this tree with a hole through the middle so I named it the Tunnel Tree. The tree seems to be thriving quite nicely, even though there is a massive, gaping hole right through the middle. Since nothing can be done with older trees that are established, I once again implore people to look around and try to imagine what the tree will see in the years ahead. If there are obvious wires there now, please don’t plant trees underneath or nearby. Plant a bush or flowers instead.

Besides the Tunnel Tree I have also noticed Miss Pac Man Tree and Flat Top. I’m sure there are many others, so the only thing we can do is make the best of situation. My suggestion for the older trees that have already sacrificed their branches and limbs to the on-going surge of technology, that creative people like you and I, give them memorable names. If you have such a name for one of these old-timer trees, please send it to Tree Tales to share with others. I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, thank you again to Reece and Lauren and may you always have love for the trees in your hearts.